Midterm Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, the overall course grade you want, and how much the midterm is worth. The calculator returns the score you need on the midterm, plus the best and worst course grades the midterm can still produce.
How to calculate midterm grade
Your final course grade is a weighted mix of the midterm and everything else. The work that is not the midterm makes up (1 - w) of the grade and is held at your current average, which locks in current x (1 - w) points. The midterm supplies the remaining w of the grade. To hit your target, the midterm must cover the gap between the target and those locked-in points, so divide that gap by the midterm's weight. If the answer is above 100 the target is out of reach with this midterm alone; if it is at or below 0 you have already secured the target.
Needed = (target - current x (1 - w)) / w, where w = midterm weight / 100
Worked example
You hold a 90 in the class, you want to finish with an 88 overall, and the midterm is worth 25% of the course grade.
- Convert the weight to a fraction: 25% = 0.25
- Points locked in by your other work: 90 x (1 - 0.25) = 90 x 0.75 = 67.5
- Gap left for the midterm to cover: 88 - 67.5 = 20.5
- Divide by the midterm weight: 20.5 / 0.25 = 82
Result: You need an 82 on the midterm to finish the course with an 88.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the grade I need on my midterm?
Take your target course grade and subtract the points your other work already locks in, which is your current grade times one minus the midterm's weight. Then divide that gap by the midterm's weight (as a fraction). With a 90 current grade, an 88 target, and a 25% midterm, you need (88 - 90 x 0.75) / 0.25 = 82.
What does "current grade" mean here?
It is your average on everything in the course that is not the midterm. The calculator assumes that average stays fixed, so it treats the midterm as the only remaining unknown. If you still have other assignments to come, enter the grade you realistically expect across all of them, not just the work returned so far.
Why is the score I need over 100%?
A result above 100 means the target is not reachable with the midterm alone, because even a perfect midterm would leave you short. Either lower the target, or raise your grade on the other course work so more points are locked in before the midterm is counted.
What if my answer is zero or negative?
A score of zero or below means you have already done enough elsewhere to hit your target, so any midterm score keeps you at or above it. The "worst possible course grade" row shows the grade you would still finish with if you scored a zero on the midterm.
How much does the midterm move my grade?
That is exactly its weight. A midterm worth 25% can swing your course grade by up to 25 points between a zero and a perfect score. The best and worst possible course grade rows show that full range for your numbers, so you can see how much is still on the line.